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Radiofrequency Ablation – a popular treatment choice for getting the heart beat in rhythm.

A boon for all those patients suffering from irregular uncoordinated heartbeats now have a new way to resolve this problem. Radiofrequency Catheter Ablation is a unique non-surgical and minimally invasive procedure that destroys the malfunctioning tissue leaving rest of the cardiac muscle safe and beating.

Most commonly used to treat supraventricular tachycardia, it also helps in the resolution of atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter and atrial tachycardia. The conditions are named as per the part of the heart contracting irregularly.

Normally both chambers of the heart contract in a coordinated and synchronised manner to produce a regular rhythm. But at times few cells in the atrium (upper chamber) or ventricle (lower chamber) may contract out of sync which gives rise to irregular heartbeat also known as flutter and fibrillation. In such cases the patient feels faint, short of breath and weak as the heart does not pump blood effectively.

In many of the patients the condition can be managed effectively through medications only. But in severe cases, the doctors prescribe radiofrequency catheter ablation.

The procedure is extremely comfortable and requires just 2-4 hours. Few long catheters are inserted through the vein (or artery) in the groin up to the heart. The guilty heart tissue is identified by sending electrical signals via electrodes inserted through these catheters. Once the faulty tissue has been localised, mild painless radiofrequency waves are sent to destroy it.

The procedure is popular with the patients as it is comfortable and short with the patient able to go home on the same day.